Press Resources

Upcoming Events

Come to the free public science lectures at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI).
Lectures are at 8 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month in the STScI auditorium on the campus
of Johns Hopkins University. Free parking is available.
(Directions to STScI)

About Hubble

Hubble at a Glance
Have you ever wondered how much Hubble weighs?
How far out in space it orbits as it views the cosmos? We'll
tell you that and much more in Hubble at a Glance, interesting
facts
about the Hubble Space Telescope.

Hubble Science Impact
The Hubble Space Telescope has had a major impact in every area
of astronomy, from the solar system to objects at the edge of
the universe. To date, more than 3,500 technical publications
have reported HST Hubble results. Here is a “Top 10”
summary of Hubble’s major scientific results.

Science Writers' Workshop

The most popular workshop is held in the Spring, when the Space Telescope Science Institute
selects a science topic and invites scientists from around the world to speak at a symposium.
In conjunction with the symposium, the Office of Public Outreach sponsors a workshop for science
writers that includes short talks by several symposium speakers. Science writers also have the
opportunity to talk with the speakers.

Science writers who cannot attend our workshops can view them on their computers. Visit our
archive for information on past workshops.

April 20, 2015 Science Writers' Telecon and Webcast

Exploring Hubble's Science Legacy

With an eye towards the future, the Space Telescope Science Institute is celebrating the extraordinary impact that the Hubble Space Telescope has had on science, culture, and society in a science symposium from April 20-23.

Because of its versatility, Hubble has made seminal contributions to almost every branch of astronomy. STScI is hosting a news media telecon on Mon., April 20, from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EDT with speakers from the symposium. The speakers will discuss select scientific topics where Hubble has made breakthroughs from the studies of our own solar system, to the detailed observations of extrasolar planets, to the deepest views of the distant universe. Presenters will also look at the anticipated overlap between Hubble and the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope, and Hubble’s contribution to the next generation of large optical/ultraviolet telescopes in space.

To join the telecon, reporters should contact Cheryl Gundy (gundy@stsci.edu) or Ray Villard (villard@stsci.edu) to receive the toll-free call-in number and passcode.

Amber Straughn (NASA/GSFC)
Hubble : Flagship of the Great Observatories

Astronaut space shuttle servicing missions are the key to Hubble’s longevity and high science productivity. In particular, SM4 upgraded Hubble to its present peak performance and promises a robust science program for the space telescope past 2020.

Ken Sembach (STScI)
Overview: Hubble's Top Science Accomplishments

Hubble's basic design allowed scientists to address key astronomical questions, but in the process, many more questions popped up. Some of Hubble’s accomplishments were not simply discovering new things. Hubble gave astronomers much more solid observational evidence for a range of celestial phenomena that were not previously well understood.

Amy Simon (NASA/GSFC)
Hubble's Solar System Exploration

Hubble has complemented the NASA planetary missions doing ongoing surveillance of the solar system. Hubble has reconnoitered the Pluto system in support of New Horizons, followed weather on the outer planets, and offered new clues to chances for life on icy moons.

Jacob Bean (U. of Chicago)
Looking for Earth II

Hubble has opened up a whole new field of research in characterizing exoplanets according to atmospheric composition, water abundance, and weather.

The Hubble deep surveys have assembled a comprehensive view of the evolution of galaxies and stars since just a few hundred million years after the big bang.

Jason Kalirai (NASA/GSFC)
Beyond Hubble

Hubble is robust enough to operate into the 2020s. A “wide-field” Hubble, Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), will follow it. The James Webb Space Telescope will extend Hubble’s research to higher redshifts in the infrared, and carry on exoplanet characterization.